Now I can't say from many AB comparisons as I dont have access to much audiophile equipment here, but for the money I've been very impressed with a Rogue Sphinx V3. Rogue is best known for tube offerings but also does class D. USA made, awesome service. It's an integrated with a true Class A pre amp section. Not sure what your budget might be but at about $1500 it's a deal. Uses Hypex modules in a traditional configuration. Also, Rogue offers the Pharaho integrated with 300 wpc and "integrating a true class A pre amp within the Hypex modules". Its a different configuration/topology but I've never heard any comments on the sonic differences. Would love to hear from Agoners if they have any experience.
High end Class D amps?
Just an observation and a question. Are there 'high end' Class D amps out there that are just as good as Class A, A/B amps? I realize that's a sensitive question to some and I mean no disrespect---but whenever I see others' hifi systems on social media, all of the amps are A or A/B. There's always Pass, McIntosh, Moon, Luxman, Accuphase, etc. Where are the Class Ds? For folks out there that want more power for less efficient speakers and can't afford the uber expensive Class As, A/Bs, what is there to choose from that's close to those brands? Thanks
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I drive my Maggie's. 7's with the Spectron musical MK ll class D amp The company is no longer in business as John Ulrick the designer passed away The amp weights in at 54lbs output is 500watts@8ohm 650@4ohms and 1,200 watts@1ohm/65 amps for 500 milliseconds my tube pre amp is the ARC LS15 To my ears and anyone that have listened to my system are duly impressed, to say the least |
As a relative newbie can you help me learn by explaining your response in a little more detail? Generally I find Class-D don’t do well below 4ohms, not even the mighty 55kg Technics SE-R1’s. Class-D wattage instead of doubling for each halving of impedance load actually gets goes backwards when they see 2ohms and worse if there is any - phase angle involved, because they can’t deliver the current like a good bi-polar linear Class-a or a/b amp can. EG: Gyphon’s etc. That’s why you always see linear amps driving speakers that present loads in the bass where current is needed down to 2ohm or even less with - phase angles like the Wilson Alexia 0.9ohm etc I have a Hypex NC500 monoblocks 340w-8ohm 600w-4ohm, similar to Bel Canto Ref M600 mono’s, but with bigger linear supplies, not smp. They sound good on some Raven tweeter’ed 2 ways I have here that are 4-6ohm benign load. But put the same amps on my big ML esl’s and they don’t do it at all sonically they go thin and loud. My less powerfull linear Class-A/B mono’s 180w-8ohm 360w-4ohm 700w-2ohm sound much better. Go louder, sound bigger with body, richer, tighter and far easier to listen to, with a huge walk in sound stage where the ESL speakers just disappear, the Class-D’s sound loud also, but like they are being fired at you from a point source and being squeezed out at you. But hey don’t sweat it, you’ve got Maggies, and Class-D likes that load, get some used BelCanto Ref M600 monoblocks they should suit them well. https://www.stereophile.com/content/bel-canto-eone-ref600m-power-amplifier Cheers George |
Class D for Bass is the Best. For Upper Bass/Midrange/Treble. I run Orchard Audio STARKRIMSON Amplifers for those sections and an ICE Power AS-1000 Class D Amp for the Bass Drivers (one inside each KEF 105/3 cabinet). All fed from a BAT VK-50SE. The best of both worlds ! Sometimes for fun, I'll run my McIntosh MC50's on the Upper Bass/Midrange/Treble. The difference in SQ is minimal between the Mac and the STARKRIMSON even though the Orchard Audio amp peaks at 300W@4 Ω whereas the McIntosh peaks out at only 70W@4Ω. The McIntosh's however are way more reliable whereas the STARKRIMSON Amplifiers have self destructed both in my system and at a friends house. Such a beautiful sounding Amplifier in such a small package. Add some Voltage Overload Protection on the DC in, and Speaker Short Circuit Protection on the output and you will have a World Class Amplifier that the majors should worry about. |
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